Chapter 5: Andante

Beaux rushed out immediately when Meliah sent him the letter asking for his attendance. He met her on a busy street behind a tall building, casting its menacing shadow over the crowds bustling below. She stood out from a mile - a scintillating beacon in his compact world. Even in her dark, inconspicuous clothing, his eyes had been trained to recognize her figure from every angle. A lithe figure swathed in a russet coat and shawl, she gave his a wide smile as he came into view.

"You wanted me?" Beaux asked as he stopped in front of her.

"I wanted you to meet Andante," she answered excitedly.

"Where is he?" he asked, scanning the streets ferociously. There were some stores and a few vendors, but Beaux could not find anyone who caught his interest. He already had a preconceived idea of this so-called "Andante." He will be monster, Beaux thought, an ugly, silly monster!

"This way!" She grabbed his arm by the coat sleeve and quickly led him into a smaller road. Her pace was hurried and sporadic as she weaved her ways through the stores and alleys. He found it difficult to pay attention; he was simply ecstatic that she was touching him. Ever since that fateful day, Meliah had kept her distance as if to discourage him from getting closer. But little did she know that Beaux was so madly infatuated with her that no amount of discouragement could deter him.

The two of them came upon the entrance of a shabby, dilapidated vendor. Beaux did all that he could to disguise the disgust and contempt on his face. Meliah peered timidly inside, but when a clutter of metal resonated on the concrete, she grabbed Beaux and hid behind a large, wooden crate.

Then, Beaux saw him. A young boy appeared from the darkness of the vendor canopy and looked around as if looking for someone. It had to be Him. But this image did not correspond to Beaux's figment. Andante was tall and lean, but his stance was that of a powerful man. His ebony black hair came past his shoulders and was tied in a ponytail that still left loose hair to frame his thin, slightly angular face. His dark eyes pierced his surroundings just as Meliah's did, but his eyes had a hard metallic sheen that Meliah had replaced with exuberance. In contrast to his apparent penury, there was an aura of elegance and dignity in his character that Beaux could not grasp.

Beaux became extremely self-conscious at that moment and sought, in vain, for an object of reflection. His hand jumped his white-blonde hair and haphazardly combed it with his long fingers. But for a moment, Beaux was relieved. Andante was nothing more than a normal human boy. He could not compare to Beaux's godly manifestation.

Meliah jumped up from behind the crates and waved at the boy. Beaux saw Andante flash a dazzling smile and sprint over. Beaux slowly stood up next to Meliah, determined to outshine his rival. Andante looked quizzically at Beaux but did not seem alarmed or even, as Beaux hoped, threatened.

"Andante!" Meliah called as she grabbed his hand. Beaux could feel his eyes burning with the intensity of his own glare. Andante came a smooth halt and shamelessly kissed her smooth cheek. She blushed furiously and gently brushed him aside, but, Beaux noted, she did not look displeased. At this point, Beaux had to grab the side of the crate to stop himself from attacking Andante. He could feel his fangs sharpening menacingly behind his lips. That wretch dares? Meliah's wide eyes met Beaux's. She looked so apologetic Beaux felt guilty for losing his composure.

"This is my best friend," she emphasized 'best' with an almost cutting tone and moved closer to Beaux, "Mr. Beaux."

Andante gave him a smile and said in a startlingly angelic voice, "I am so glad to meet you, Mr. Beaux."

Beaux was so shocked by Andante's voice. As Meliah had said, it was enchanting. It was neither too deep or femininely high, but a medium pitch that seemed to vibrate every molecule in Beaux's body.

"Of course not, the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Andante," Beaux replied coolly.

"I'm being a hindrance again! Your work!" Meliah suddenly exclaimed with a little jump. She turned to Andante and grasped the hem of his sleeve with her porcelain hands. "I'm so sorry, I didn't think of that!"

"No! Never," Andante said reassuringly as he pulled an arm around Meliah's shoulders and drew her closer, "I can always spare time for you."

Beaux wondered how his stomach was possibly functioning at a moment like this. Any moment, the contents of his lunch and perhaps breakfast would start retracting into his throat! Meliah would never fall into that loathsome trap of clichés!

Once again, Meliah look penitent and gave Beaux a glance asking for his forgiveness. He returned to her imploring eyes, a small, affectionate smile, which he was sure Andante saw as well. Meanwhile, Meliah looked very relieved but still made a heroic attempt to wiggle out of Andante's hold. Andante looked at her sadly in an emotion that Beaux sympathized with. A strange and awkward silence draped over the trio like a heavy blanket. Beaux never took his eyes off of Andante, who continued to gaze at Meliah's face with worry and understanding.

Meliah made a sudden commotion of the purple mulch that was stuck to the sole of her boots. Spurning the need for accompaniment, she walked into a nearby store to find a restroom. Beaux and Andante were left alone.

"What is your relationship with Meliah?" Andante asked as soon as Meliah was out of earshot. His tone had changed so drastically that Beaux was caught unawares. Andante's eyes were scrutinizing and cold as they glazed Beaux from top to bottom.

"I'm a close friend of hers," Beaux said in a tone equally as demanding.

"Is that so? You aren't hiding any secret motives?"

"Why would I have a motive? I came here with Meliah, you saw so yourself!" Ah, so the oaf does have a brain after all, Beaux thought. I was not attempting to shield anything from this silly ass anyway.

"Meliah is uncomfortable being herself in your presence," Andante retorted.

"What ever do you mean?"

"Why should she have to watch everything she does? Please, don't feign innocence. I know you know. Every time I get close to her, she backs off, feeling sorry for you!"

"Feeling sorry? Excuse me, but I don't need her pity and she knows that better than you do," Beaux said icily.

"No," Andante began, slowly and rather dangerously, "she knows that you are unhappy being around us. She feels responsible. I know you're not just a friend, as you claim to be. Meliah is a kind person. She doesn't want to hurt you, Mr. Beaux."

"Thank you, sir, for being so considerate," Beaux began, "But I'm not sure I like your tone. Are you perhaps suggesting that I'm involved in some illicit relationship with Miss Meliah?"

"And if I am?"

Beaux did not know how to answer. If he had his way, he would have jumped at this generous opportunity to declare his love – just to see Andante squirm with anger and embarrassment. Yet this was the man that Meliah loved. If she loved this fool…and if Beaux loved her…he could not sabotage that relationship. Meliah meant so much more.

Beaux's mind was racing rapidly and he finally snapped back to reality when he tasted warm blood in his mouth. He had been biting his tongue with such pressure to keep himself from saying anything that he had pierced the pink flesh.

"Meliah and I are simply friends," Beaux finally managed (he could never in a thousand years imagine how terrible it was to lie), "Nothing…more…"

The last part which Beaux uttered made his heart twinge with pain: a deep wound torn open, tearing the sinews, splattering the blood and nerves, and finally scrubbing it with a fistful of salt.

Despite his desperate endeavor to subdue it, his anguish must have crept unto his expression for Andante's eyes softened. Beaux clenched his eyes shut and massaged his temples with his white hands. The stress was immense!

"That's all I wanted to know," Andante said after watching Beaux intently. He still looked annoyingly sympathetic, and Beaux wished for nothing more than to wipe that stupid expression of Andante's face.

The two remained silent until Meliah returned – confused by the mounting tension and wondering what had transpired in her absence.